Owning a van?

the_rourkster

What are the ins and outs of owning a van for use as a private car? Is it straightforward, can I just transfer my insurance? Are there any problems getting it taxed? It makes much more sense for me to own a van rather than a car due to hobbies etc.


Any info would be much appreciated.

Del2005

Higher tolls, more expensive CVRT annually, nearly impossible to get insurance for private use (commercial policies cover private use but you need to be in a job that requires a commercial vehicle), insurance will be more expensive than private, some places have restrictions on commercial vehicles using them. Some councils are more stringent on enforcing the commercial use only for commercial tax if you can't get commercial tax it's on the old cc system, most cars have cheaper tax than commercial tax

Most vans have a private car version or buy a big estate and remove the seats.

twignme

I changed to a Ford Fiesta van because it suits my needs. Chill could only find one insurer who would insure private/non-commercial use and it's very expensive. Commercial tax is higher also and as Del says, tolls are more expensive too. Coming up to its annual CRVT so that's another thing to consider. Having said that, the vehicle is perfect for me so I can't complain!

Del2005

twignme wrote: »

I changed to a Ford Fiesta van because it suits my needs. Chill could only find one insurer who would insure private/non-commercial use and it's very expensive. Commercial tax is higher also and as Del says, tolls are more expensive too. Coming up to its annual CRVT so that's another thing to consider. Having said that, the vehicle is perfect for me so I can't complain!

What benefit do you have with a Fiesta van vs a Fiesta car with the seats down/out?

Wishbone Ash

OP - I did that for a couple of years about 20 years ago. Not worth the hassle regarding insurance. The vast majority of the regular companies won't go near you so you'd have to get a broker involved and it works out quite expensive and they ask a lot more questions. Basically they seem to think I was operating a business which I wasn't.

(I had the van taxed private so I wasn't called for NCT or DOE. Not sure if that was a loophole).

twignme wrote: »

I changed to a Ford Fiesta van ...!

It's easier with a car derived van. Try it with an ordinary van!

K.Flyer

My brother has a crew cab trafic van insured privately with AXA, has to be taxed on the size of the engine.
Hope that helps.. worth giving them a call.

stratowide

Yeah I did this about 5 years ago too.

You can't transfer private car insurance over to a van.You will need to cancel it and they refund the remaining time left on it.

Start again with commercial van insurance.
Can't remember if your NCB carries over but highly doubt it.

First insurance on the van was saucy but came back down to normal after a few years.

Tax wise it goes by the old system based on engine cc.
Saucy if you go near a 2.0litre.

I've a 1.3 engine so its not much more than commercial tax for me.

Tolls wise it is treated as a private car on the few times I've used the M50 toll.
Cashier tolls always look for commercial rate and I've found little point arguing with them..!

Cvrt is due every year..Think its €110ish.

Never had any bother with getting insurance either.

Darc19

stratowide wrote: »

Yeah I did this about 5 years ago too.

You can't transfer private car insurance over to a van.You will need to cancel it and they refund the remaining time left on it.

Start again with commercial van insurance.
Can't remember if your NCB carries over but highly doubt it.

First insurance on the van was saucy but came back down to normal after a few years.

Tax wise it goes by the old system based on engine cc.
Saucy if you go near a 2.0litre.

I've a 1.3 engine so its not much more than commercial tax for me.

Tolls wise it is treated as a private car on the few times I've used the M50 toll.
Cashier tolls always look for commercial rate and I've found little point arguing with them..!

Cvrt is due every year..Think its €110ish.

Never had any bother with getting insurance either.

Some of that is incorrect.

1. Road tax will most likely be €333
2. Tolls will be commercial prices as they read the number plate. You may have been lucky.
3. Private insurance has to be cancelled and commercial insurance taken out, but your NCB does carry. If you have both van and car, the NCB only applies to one vehicle
4. Insurance won't be an issue, but it will be more expensive than a private car.


Overall no advantage unless you really need one.

stratowide

Darc19 wrote: »

Some of that is incorrect.

1. Road tax will most likely be €333
2. Tolls will be commercial prices as they read the number plate. You may have been lucky.
3. Private insurance has to be cancelled and commercial insurance taken out, but your NCB does carry. If you have both van and car, the NCB only applies to one vehicle
4. Insurance won't be an issue, but it will be more expensive than a private car.


Overall no advantage unless you really need one.

No I'm correct as I'm referring to the OP who wants to use the van for private use.
Its a hybrid of commercial insurance and private tax.

The M50toll reads my number plate as a private vehicle.
The cashier tolls dont bother reading the number plate and look for commercial toll rates when they see a van.

twignme

Del2005 wrote: »

What benefit do you have with a Fiesta van vs a Fiesta car with the seats down/out?

A proper flat floor usable for entire space, no side windows, bulkhead.

twignme

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It's easier with a car derived van. Try it with an ordinary van!

It was no easier, it’s still classed as a commercial in every way. It’s a van.

Detritus70

I bought a Transit Connect a few years ago and the only way to get insurance on that was to tell them fecking great big lies with bells on them to get insurance.
And I'm pretty certain it was null and void anyway with the amount of bullcrap I had to invent.
I found it an absolute impossibility to get any kind of cover as a private person on a van, it just doesn't happen.
I asked a friend who is a surfer dude and he drives a High Ace and his answer was "I lied through my teeth".
I only needed it to drive to Germany. Over there I could have rang three insurance companies and gotten three good quotes in five minutes.
I now drive a 19 year old Fiesta that I pay €300 for, I'm so glad I don't have to insure a car in Ireland anymore.
But what I want to know, how do thousands of people buy massive Jeeps and tax them commercially but never seem to have any troubles insuring them cheaply?
That is the real headscratcher.